How Did The Russian Revolution Affect The Red Scare

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The Red Scare, described by the text as “the first and most intense outbreak of the national alarm after WWI (p. 647)” aimed at achieving unity at the expense of ethnic diversity. The new target, bolshevism. The Russian Revolution and the triumph of Marxism scared Americans and with many Americans turning to communism, especially immigrants, fears were accelerated. Many events also contributed to the Red Scare consisting of a strike in Seattle, a police strike in Boston, and another strike through the iron and steel industry during 1919. The text also relates to bombings such as the attack on Attorney General Mitchell Palmer which was found to be set by an Italian anarchist from Philadelphia which was blown up during the explosion. Multiple bombs and other suspicious packages were also found circulating in the …show more content…

As a result, Palmer led an attack on alien coming to America illegally. One of the methods to solve the problem was to round up suspected anarchists and communists and ship them back to their home country. Others suggested things such as firing lines and hangings. According to the text even after the Red Scare fell in a rapid demise “in early 1920, government officials from the Department of Labor insisted on due process and full hearings prior to anyone else being deported (p. 648).” The Red Scare however was not forgotten and many foreign-born citizens lived in uneasiness as they always feared hostility and were looked at with suspicious. As a result of the Red Scare, prohibition, and the Klan, Congress enacted an immigration restriction, which first started with a literacy test that reduced the amount of immigrants entering the county.

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